Flight cancellations top woe list

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Changes to airport baggage regulations after a terror alert last August led to a rise in complaints by UK passengers, an official watchdog group says.

There were 12,046 written and telephone complaints to the Air Transport Users Council (AUC) between April 2006 and March 2007, a 22% year-on-year rise.

Flight cancellations topped the list of dissatisfactions, followed by delays and mishandled baggage.

Fog delays in December were also said to have contributed to the increase.

TOP COMPLAINTS CancellationsDelaysMishandled baggageTicketing issues/refundsReservation problemsDenied boardingGround servicesSchedulesTaxInflight servicesExcess baggage charges

The introduction of strict limits on hand luggage caused disruption to passengers at airports across the country.

The AUC suggested the introduction of online check-ins and baggage charges could anger some customers.

AUC chairman Tina Tietjen said: "We agree that some of these innovations, such as self-service check-in, can make life easier for passengers.

"But airlines and airport operators must be careful that the changes they make are put in place with the best interests of their customers at heart and not in the interest solely of cutting costs.

"It is in everyone's interest that the whole experience of flying is not made so tiresome that some passengers decide it is not worth the effort."